Of the anticipated five million american citizens who've Alzheimer's ailment, greater than 7 in 10 dwell at domestic, basically cared for by way of friends and family. Alzheimer's ailment: A guide for Caregivers, kinfolk, and pals includes a workbook-type layout aimed toward expanding the caregiver's wisdom of the sickness. therefore, those caregivers — no matter if family, buddies or future health pros — could be greater built to nurture the consideration inside humans residing with Alzheimer's and consider extra convinced doing so. The booklet is a device for caregivers that would effect not just the best way they relate to individuals with Alzheimer's disorder, yet different relationships to boot.

She starts, within the morning, by way of casing her joints: Can her ankles take the steps? Will her arms open a jar? Peel an orange? however it used to be no longer constantly this fashion for Mary Felstiner, who went to mattress one evening an energetic expert and fit younger mom, and woke the subsequent morning actually out of joint.

Extra info for Alzheimer's Disease: A Handbook for Caregivers, Family, and Friends

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What are your strengths as a caregiver? T T T T T T T T Do you have a sense of humor? Are you patient? Can you be quiet with the person? Are you a good listener? Do you get upset, but then apologize? Do you make time for the person with dementia? Are you thoughtful? Do you think of surprises for others? Have you learned that repeating a phrase or idea over and over again is part of the disease and that the person with dementia does not realize he or she is repeating the same questions or phrases?

He doesn’t mean to upset me. His forgetfulness is beginning to cause me and my family problems. ” When you can differentiate fact from feeling, it puts distance between you and the event. It lets you take yourself and your feelings out of the picture. It gives you a chance to take “time out” and to see what is happening. God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change . . Courage to change the things I can . . and Wisdom to know the difference . . —Reinhold Niebuhr CalloneAlzheim 5PPw-index 9/12/05 3:12 PM Page 15 B eing a Caregiv er: Challenges and S olut io ns 5.

Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obligated, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place. —Susan Sontag 10. R e flect on a “Pa t i e n t’s Bill of Rights” R e flect on how you—as a caregiver—are helping your loved one live the most productive life possible. Give yourself credit for all the things you are doing for your loved one. Pa t i e n t’s Bill of Rights Every person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder deserves: T T T T T T T T T T To be informed of one’s diagnosis To have appropriate, ongoing medical care To be productive in work and play as long as possible To be treated like an adult, not like a child To have expressed feelings taken seriously To be free from psychotropic medication if at all possible To live in a safe, structured and predictable environment To enjoy meaningful activities to fill each day To be out-of-doors on a regular basis To have physical contact including hugging, caressing, and hand-holding T To be with persons who know one’s life story, including cultural and religious traditions T To be cared for by individuals well-trained in dementia care (Developed by: Virginia March Bell, MSW, Alzheimer’s Association, Lexington/Bluegrass Chapter Kentucky; David Troxel, MPH, Alzheimer’s Association, Santa Barbara Chapter, California) Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.